By Haroon Balogun

All praise for Allah Who has honored man and has created him in the best of forms. Praise for Allah Who has endowed man with the ability to speak with his tongue as one of His greatest bounties. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the only God Who has no partner. In the Divine Book, Allah, the Exalted, has endowed us with words we utter in order to communicate with each other, express our feelings, and reveal our intentions.

The tongue is a great endowment of Allah which may be used to praise and thank Him for which one earns reward. Allah, the Exalted says:”Have we not made for him two eyes, And a tongue and two lips?”(90:8-9-). So, Whoever wishes to speak should reflect before saying anything. If any benefit is found, then let him speak. Otherwise, let him remain silent.” Some words may earn us the greatest reward and others may lead to the worst punishment.

The tongue has either power of good or bad. Allah has ordained Muslim not to belittle the value of his words, and not to utter words of no use or have no control over his speech or his ability to foresee the repercussions of his saying. Allah, the Exalted, says:”Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).”(50:18). Allah has praised the believers who refrain from vain pursuits (curiosity), gossip and backbiting. In His divine revelation, Allah says:” and those who avoid vain talks”(23:3).

It takes few words to build, love each other and strengthen unity. It also takes a few words to destroy and cause chaos and permanent enemies. Every human being will account for what ever he had said to either build or destroy relationship. The power of speech has the ability to wreak havoc upon entire communities. The tongue has so much power because of its ability to lead to action, whether it is the individual speaking, or others who are listening.

So, whoever wishes to speak should reflect before saying anything. If any benefit is found, then let him speak. Otherwise, let him remain silent. Communication entails a big responsibility requiring everyone of us to think and reflect on the far reaching consequences before uttering any word, especially those who are engaged in thoughts that may spread, or may impact people’s life.

It has been narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) was asked:”O Messenger of Allah, which of the Muslims is best?” and he said’”He who the Muslims are safe from his tongue and his hand.” Islam reminds us that the tongue is like a loaded weapon: the safety latch should always be on. Muslim scholars throughout time have warned us about the dangers of misfiring the tongue, something that almost everyone has been guilty of.

One of the qualities of a believer is the ability to refrain from vain talk. Allah also mentions refraining from vain talk after he mentions al-Khushoo’. This is because too much talk makes the heart hard. It is not possible to reach the level of Khushoo’ (fear of Allah) unless one refrains from vain talk. Remember that Allah says: “Not a word is said except that there is a watcher by him ready to record it.” Q50:18.

An-Nawawi, (may Allah be pleased with him) says “Know it is incumbent upon all to guard their tongues from most speech, except a word that has some benefit in it….” – Kitaabul-Adhkaar Apart from An-Nawawi, other hadiths related copious warnings of the Prophet on guiding one’s utterance. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said, “Guard your tongue, stay in your homes and weep over your sins.” – Related by Ibn Mubarak in az-Zuhd (no.134), Musnad Ahmed bin Hambal (5/259), Sunan at-Tirmidhi (2531) and authenticated by al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no.890)

Also, the Prophet stated (s.a.w), “Most of the sins of the children of Aadam are from the tongue.” – At-Tabaraanee (3/87/1-2). In another related hadiths, the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Those who do not harm the Muslims with their tongues and hands.” – Saheeh al-Bukhari (1/10) and Saheeh al-Muslim (1/64) Sahl ibn Sa’ad – radiAllahu’ anhu – reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “Whoever guards what is between his jaws and legs.

I shall guarantee him paradise.” – Saheeh al-Bukhari (8/481). A similar narration can be found in Muwatta of Imam Malik (56/11) and Sunan at-Tirmidhi. When the Companion of the Prophet, Mu’adh ibn Jabal – radiAllahu’ anhu – asked the Prophet – (s.a.w)- about that which would entitle him to enter Paradise and save him from the hell-fire, he said – mentioned the pillars of Islam and informed Mu’adh of the importance of the night prayers and of Jihaad.

He then said, “Should I not inform you of the sheet anchor of all this?”, and then took hold of his tongue and said, “Exercise restraint on it.”. Don’t choose to be like one of the As-habu towilu-lisanni, during the days of the Prophet. (s.a.w)